Crowds greet opening of North Trail Walmart

The smaller Neighborhood Market-style store is the first of its kind in the area

By JUSTINE GRIFFIN

Several dozen people stood outside Sarasota's first Walmart Neighborhood Market on Wednesday morning in anticipation of the store's grand opening.

The 34,000-square-foot store at 3500 N. Tamiami Trail is the first of its kind to open in Southwest Florida and the first Walmart location within the city limits of Sarasota.

Although the opening didn't bring the kind of spirited fans that the openings Trader Joe's or Costco drew, about 150 people crowded outside the store before it opened its doors at 8 a.m. The parking lot was full through the morning on Wednesday, although check-out lines were short and moving quickly.

"We hope the store will help revitalize this part of the North Trail," said store manager Jeff Douglas.

Rachel Sandkaut woke early on Wednesday to be one of the first to step foot inside the new store.

"The prices are cheap and the store is only five blocks from my home," Sandkaut said, after purchasing a cart full of groceries. "I don't even have to drive here."

Unlike traditional Walmart stores, the neighborhood market format is smaller and offers food, pharmacy and beauty departments similar to other supermarket chains, such as Publix, Winn-Dixie and Sweetbay.